Prior to the game between the New York Rangers and the Columbus Blue Jackets, Rick Nash #61 of the New York Rangers was honored for playing in his 1000th National Hockey League game and is joined by John Davidson of the Blue Jackets (l) at Madison Square Garden on November 6, 2017 in New York City.

Columbus Blue Jackets president of hockey operations John Davidson resigned from his post with the team on Friday after previously speaking to the New York Rangers about their vacant team president position.

Davidson has been long considered the heir apparent to Glen Sather as Rangers president.

"I am excited and humbled to be named the President of the New York Rangers", Davidson said in the press release.

"The winning culture that now is entrenched in all of us will continue under the direction of Jarmo Kekalainen, who will now serve as an alternate governor in addition to general manager, and the leaders within our hockey operations department".

McConnell said in 2011 that Davidson was the flawless person to lead Columbus' hockey operations department, and seven years later believes he was correct. He was there for six years before a new ownership group came in and bought him out of his contract.

"He joined our team at a very hard time and led a transformation that has resulted in consistent winning and appearances in the Stanley Cup playoffs", McConnell said.

Finally after all the rumors and speculation, John Davidson is coming home. This time, the belief is that he had an out in his contract with the Blue Jackets that would allow him to leave if the NY job became available.

McConnell said the possibility of Davidson "returning to his roots in NY, where he spent three decades as a player and broadcaster, is an extraordinary circumstance for him and his family". As a player for the Rangers from 1975-83, he led them to the 1979 Stanley Cup Finals on an injured left knee and then transitioned into broadcasting, where he was affectionately known simply as "J.D". A confidante and golf buddy of Glen Sather, the hiring of Davidson means that the Rangers rebuild will continue on the path that it has taken for nearly two years.